The fact Phil Gould and Isaac Moses have a working relationship again is hard for some in clubland to take. But it’s important to get something clear.
The assumption that Gould only re-established his relationship with Moses to try and sign Lachlan Galvin is an easy one to make, but it’s not true.
What is fact is that the Bulldogs were having doubts about halfback Toby Sexton coming into this year. They discussed the idea of signing Dolphins No.7 Sean O’Sullivan, who is managed by Moses, as a solution. The dealings were conducted largely between Moses and Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo who, naturally, was looping in Gould, the Bulldogs’ general manager.
One day as the discussions were getting more frequent, Moses picked up the phone and rang Gould direct, rather than going through Ciraldo. As with any negotiation, direct communication is easier. The pair discussed a possible deal, and it didn’t work out.
But to say the Bulldogs have no other contact with Moses is incorrect. Gould has three players in the Bulldogs squad who are managed by Moses – utility Kurt Mann, back-up hooker Jake Turpin and outside back Enari Tuala. The push for Galvin did not come solely from Gould – far from it. Coach Ciraldo is a big fan and wanted him at the club.
What has been lost in the hysteria around the Galvin signing is the fact that the Bulldogs have snuck under the guard of the Parramatta Eels to sign a player who was desperately wanted by one of the biggest clubs in Sydney and who were willing to pay more. That’s not a crack at Parramatta – it’s just stating the facts.
Isaac Moses and Phil Gould.Credit: Michael Howard
Most clubs would like Galvin on their books and there is a degree of jealousy around the signing. The other glaring issue is that the Tigers have lost the type of player you can build a club around. Yet all the criticism is directed at the general manager of the club who signed him.
To quote Gus himself: “It’s a funny game, rugby league.”
Failure of management
Sexton is one of the most popular players at the Bulldogs – but his manager has not done him any favours.
The Dogs have been working closely with Sexton on his game development and had been hoping that he would become the player they need. But they have been less than impressed with the public touting of Sexton by his agent.
Toby Sexton’s manager has played his hand poorly.Credit: Getty Images
First, there was talk of widespread interest in Sexton from other clubs. If the agent is telling the truth, he will have no issues finding a new deal for his client. Then, on the eve of their clash with the Broncos last weekend, there was talk of a big offer from the Bulldogs in the million-dollar vicinity to keep him at Belmore.
Now, the Dogs have no evidence about the level of interest in Sexton from other clubs, but what they are sure of is that they never made an offer to Sexton – and now it appears they won’t. The use of the media by the agent has backfired in this instance, and Sexton needs to know that. There is no guarantee the Dogs would have made him a priority signing, but the agent’s attempt to pressure the club through the media has backfired.
The main problem is that since his manager pushed the re-signing line, Sexton’s form has gone south. There is no question he is a capable No.7 and his win record has been very good recently. The Bulldogs certainly hope he continues on his upward career trajectory. But it may not be at Belmore, and that has been known for a while.
Lachlan Galvin was officially released by the Tigers on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
Knives out for Galvin already
Lachlan Galvin is only 19, but that won’t stop veteran hatchet men trying to make his life difficult at his new club. The campaign to destabilise Galvin’s time at Belmore has already begun. And it’s childish to say the least. Possibly frustrated by an inability to access Galvin or accurate information about him, the line is being pushed by some reporters that Galvin will not be liked by his Bulldogs teammates because of what happened at the Tigers.
It has been suggested there will be a wedge between Galvin and Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton, the reason being that Crichton and Jarome Luai are mates and therefore Crichton will not want to be friends or teammates with Galvin because of his fallout with Luai at the Tigers.
It’s the type of stuff you can’t make up.
Or you can, and then continue to push it if the Dogs have a losing run, pinning the blame on a player split. To say Crichton would behave like that is an insult to one of the game’s best players and most impressive leaders. It implies that Crichton can’t form his own opinions of a person and will be blindly led by what his friends think of Galvin.
Be certain that Crichton was consulted before the club decided to pursue the signature of Gavin. Senior players like Crichton and Viliame Kikau are given the heads-up and their opinion sought on potential recruits. They are valued figures at the Bulldogs and if Crichton wasn’t brought into the loop on Galvin it would be a major shock.
It’s also worth knowing that Luai and Crichton are not as close as they once were when they were teammates at Penrith. It’s not to say there is an issue of any sort but the communication between them is not at the level it once was. Crichton would definitely value Luai’s view, but he’s independent enough and intelligent enough to form his own opinion. To say otherwise is completely unfair on Crichton.
Trell’s booze ban benefits Blues
Latrell Mitchell has been criticised in some quarters for not speaking to the media. But there is something else more significant the Blues star has been avoiding, and for which he deserves enormous praise.
Mitchell is not drinking, even going to the length of steering clear of environments where alcohol is being consumed.
After Wednesday’s Origin opener, he was nowhere to be seen once the media was allowed into the Blues sheds — where alcohol was freely available and being consumed by many in the room.
Focused: Latrell Mitchell has cut out alcohol.Credit: Getty Images
And it’s doing him the world of good: Mitchell is looking fitter and more focused than ever. A lot of that has been put down to Wayne Bennett’s influence and his self-imposed media ban, but just as much can be attributed to his decision to give the booze a miss.
The Blues’ team song now finishes off with a mention of their sponsors, Tooheys. But get one thing very clear – there is no drinking culture in the team, which is good for players like Mitchell.
The Blues’ bonding night was about as tame an affair as you could hope for. Coach Laurie Daley organised a room at his local pub on the North Shore where the players spent a couple of hours having a drink or two and getting to know each other.
Along with Mitchell, there are a number of others in the side who don’t touch alcohol. It’s a vastly different situation to the old Origin teams – and even the not-so-old. In his first incarnation as NSW coach, Daley had issues with players like Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan drinking alcohol which ultimately contributed to his demise.
This time around, the players were more likely to play golf or go for a sauna rather than even contemplate doing anything which could lead to drama for them.
The professional attitude of the players was a real eye-opener for Daley after his previous stint as coach, and it makes life a lot easier for everyone involved preparing the team.
It also makes life easier for someone like Mitchell, who has made a conscious decision to adopt a healthy lifestyle. There is no pressure to drink or bond in the old-fashioned manner. It’s a credit to the new ethos that now exists within the Blues.
While there is no doubt a series win will be celebrated if it happens, the clean-living ways of the majority of those involved with the preparation is a positive for the team.
Daley stroll in heart of Brisbane
It was an extremely relaxed game-day coaches’ meeting for a team apparently fuming at footage of Stephen Crichton limping off the training paddock being published in the media.
“Spygate” was not on the minds of Laurie Daley and his coaching and high-performance crew as they chatted away in the heart of the Brisbane CBD – standing out like a sore thumb in a town that was becoming more Maroon by the minute.
Passersby were shocked to see Daley, Matt King, Dean Young, Boyd Cordner and others at a cafe talking the talk at lunchtime on game day.
Money for nothing
Channel Seven Brisbane earned the wrath of the Blues for allegedly offering money to Queensland fans to heckle their rivals. The Blues’ media team say they were told by a Seven cameraman that the fans were being paid by the station to shout at the Blues. It seems excessive, though it hardly made an impact on the players – who were treated with surprising respect by Queensland fans during the week.
Burton ready at the Dubbo
Matt Burton has gone up even further in the estimation of Blues management without even appearing in camp in the lead-up to game one. When he was made aware that the Blues needed him to be on stand-by after Stephen Crichton suffered a corked quad, he was willing to leave a holiday in Dubbo at the drop of a hat.
And when flights became an issue, potentially preventing him from joining camp until game day, he volunteered that a friend of his had a jet and could fly him from Dubbo to Brisbane if need be.
Burton was willing to drop everything in the full knowledge that he would only be 18th man – again – and unlikely to play. That’s more proof of the attitude that makes this side so good.
Dogs eye full house for Eels blockbuster
The Bulldogs have high hopes for their Kings Birthday crowd against Parramatta – they want to fill Accor Stadium. The club is releasing $10 tickets, like they did for their Good Friday match against South Sydney, which will be available from 4pm on Sunday.
The attendance is already tracking to beat Good Friday’s, so the Dogs are a chance of setting another attendance record for a regular-season game.
Bulldogs fans packed out Accor Stdium on Good Friday.Credit: Getty Images
Bear minimum for Brad
Brad Arthur has knocked back the offer to become an assistant coach at the Perth Bears – as he should, given he has coached at the top level for more than a decade. He could walk into the head coaching position at a club and do a great job. Brett White, an assistant with the Titans, Blues and Kangaroos and a rising star in the coaching ranks, has been mentioned as a potential recruit for the Bears.
Watch State of Origin exclusively Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now
Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.
